Gasket with integral channel and port seal

ABSTRACT

A novel gasket is provided for filling the space between two mating surfaces on components in an automotive transmission. The gasket includes one or more patches of silicone integrated into a portion of the gasket for providing one or more channels through the gasket, having leak proof seals at the ends of the channel. Bolt passage holes are spaced in the gasket to register with corresponding bolt holes in the mating surfaces. A channel aperture passes through the portion of the gasket augmented with the silicone patch, providing a channel between the mating surfaces. The ends of the channel define leak proof seals between the gasket and the mating surfaces for providing a leak proof fluid flow channel between the mating surfaces.

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/021,427 filed Oct. 30, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,766 which is a continuation of 09/295,682 filed Apr. 21, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,388 issued on Dec. 4, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gaskets for inserting between two mating surfaces for padding and/or filling spaces such as manufacturing tolerances in the surfaces and/or preventing intimate contact between the two mating surfaces. The present invention more particularly relates to gaskets for inserting between two mating surfaces wherein the gasket has integrated therein a channel which permits communication between the two mating surfaces.

2. Prior Art

Gaskets are often used for filling in space and/or for padding between two mating surfaces. It is normal that the spaces between two mating surfaces are products of manufacturing tolerances and/or acceptable defects in the mating surfaces of the components fitted together and/or the potential space between the two mating surfaces where there is a different coefficient of thermal expansion between the materials fabricating the surfaces on the two components that are mated. In addition, some gaskets are used to form seals between two mating surfaces for preventing leakage between the mating surfaces.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,733 to Hartz, issued in April 1984, teaches a spacer which forms a gasket between two surfaces where the spacer is fabricated from a special, elastomeric material, having a coefficient of thermal expansion exceeding the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material forming the components separated by the spacer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,794 to Gibbons, issued in April 1986 teaches a joining and sealing gasket fabricated from special, heat cured silicone rubber with specific rubber composition, for filling a space between two surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,539 to Anderson et al, issued in October 1992 teaches a gasket defined as a floating seal specifically for a scroll machine, for hermetically sealing the exterior shell of the scroll machine to prevent leakage of fluid under pressure. The Hartz '733 patent and the Gibbons '794 patent each teach a spacer that provides a full seal between two mating surfaces. The spacer taught in both of these patents are fabricated, from specific, expensive materials and are expensive to manufacture. The Anderson et al teaching in the '539 patent provides a complex, speciality floating seal, designed specifically for use in a particular machine, a scroll machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a printed gasket for filling in gaps and space between two mating surfaces, which gaps and/or spaces are defined by manufacturing tolerances and/or surfaces blemishes in the mating surfaces. The gasket member includes one or more centrally located apertures for passing connector means, such as threaded bolts or screws, for example, through the gasket for securing and holding the components in a mating condition about the gasket. Integrated into a portion of the gasket member is a silicone blanket or patch which augments the thickness of the gasket member. At least one channel means, defined by an aperture passing through the augmented portion of the gasket member is provided. The augmented portion of the gasket member further defines a seal means, at each end of the channel means, providing a leak proof seal between the channel means and the inlet and outlet port means in the mating surfaces, when the inlet and outlet port means in the mating surfaces are in registration with each other and with the channel means, for forming leak proof seals about the channel means ends and the inlet port means and the outlet port means in the mating surfaces. The present invention provides a gasket for filling space between two mating surfaces with silicone patches integrated into the gasket and at least one aperture extending through the augmented portion of the gasket, providing a leak proof channel and end seals for providing leak proof fluid flow between the outlet port means in one mating surface and inlet port means in the other mating surface, for maintaining a leak proof fluid flow between the two mated surfaces.

The present invention is especially useful for inserting between a center support member and a hub member on a transmission of a motor vehicle. Preferably, the gasket is a circular member having spaced inner and outer circumferences with the width between the two circumferences substantially two to three times the length of the diameter of bolt holes in the gasket, for passing coupling bolts between the center support member and the hub member through the gasket. The bolt holes in the gasket member, are spaced to register with the bolt holes in the mating surfaces of the center support member and the hub member. Preferably, the material from which the gasket member is fabricated is gasket material identified as Armstrong NV519, marketed by the Armstrong Corporation, the gasket material having about 0.0085 inches thickness. However, other gasket material may be used, if desired. In registration with flow ports in the mating surfaces of the center support member and the hub member, is a channel aperture in the gasket member. Integrated into the gasket member and surrounding the channel aperture is a polymer bead or patch, such as silicone, for example. The portion of the gasket covered by the silicone patch increases the thickness of the body of the gasket and the length of the channel aperture in the gasket member, by approximately 0.004 inches to 0.008 inches. When the channel aperture in the gasket member is in registration with the outlet port in one mating surface and the inlet port in the other mating surface, a channel for the flow of fluid is provided between the outlet and inlet ports of the two mated surfaces. Augmented by the polymer patch integrated into:the gasket seals are provided at the ends of the channel aperture for sealing the gasket to the mating surfaces about the inlet and outlet ports, respectively, for providing a leak proof channel between the two mating surfaces with leak proof seals between the channel ends and the ports in the mating surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the invention, represented in FIG. 1, along lines 2—2;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the invention, represented in FIG. 1, along lines 3—3;

FIG. 4 is a representation of the invention, represented in FIG. 1, used between a center support and a hub, shown in exploded view; and

FIG. 5 is an end view of the inside end of the hub represented in FIG. 4, shown along the lines. 5—5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the drawings identical parts and/or components are identified with identical call out numbers and/or letters. FIG. 1 represents an annular form of the invention with outer circumference 11 and inner circumference 12 defining the width of the gasket 10. The apertures 14 a, 14 b and 14 c represent connector means or bolt holes in the body of the gasket, which holes register with the holt holes in the surface of the respective mating surfaces, more clearly represented in FIGS. 4 and 5. A cross section view of the body of the gasket 10, along lines 2—2 is represented in FIG. 2. The thickness of the body, as between the arrows 15 a and 15 b, is substantially uniform through the body of the gasket except for the augmented portion of the gasket, around the channel apertures 20 a, 20 b and 20 c. Each channel aperture 20 a, 20 b and 20 c, in the body of the gasket 10 is auglnented by a bead or patch of a polymer material 21, such as silicone, for example. FIG. 3 represents a cross section of the gasket body 15 a– 15 b, augmented with the silicone patch 21 a–21 b, surrounding the channel aperture 20 a. The periphery, or surface, at each end of the channel aperture, at 22 a and 22 b, for example, becomes a seal between the gasket and the juxapositioned surface when the gasket is compressed between two mating surfaces.

The bolt holes 14 a, 14 b and 14 c, or more or fewer than represented, are centrally located in the gasket, with the center of the respective holes substantially centered between the inner circumference and the outer circumference. The arcuate position of the respective holes is such that the bolt holes in the gasket align or register with the bolt holes or connector holes in the mating surfaces, which register with corresponding holes in both mating surfaces. This permits unobstructed passage through the gasket for the connector means from one surface to the other surface to connect or couple the surfaces in mating condition.

FIGS. 4 and 5 represent components of a motor vehicle transmission, such as a center support 40 and a hub 42. The center support has a recessed surface 41 into which the base end 44 of the hub nests so that the recessed surface 41 of the center support and the surface 45 of the base end of the hub, mate. This is a typical use for a gasket.

The gasket 10 seats into the recess of the center support on the surface 41 and is aligned rotationally so that the bolt holes 14 a, 14 b and 14 c register with the bolt holes or connector holes 46 a, 46 b and 46 c, respectively. The hub is seated over the gasket and aligned rotationally so that the bolt holes or connector means holes 47 a, 47 b and 47 c register with corresponding bolt holes 46 a, 46 b and 46 c in the center support. The channel and seal ports 20 a, 20 b and 20 c in gasket 10′ align with the fluid flow ports 50 a, 50 b and 50 c in the surface 45 of the hub 42 while the fluid flow ports 52 a, 52 b and 52 c in the center support 40 align with the channel and seal ports 20 a, 20 b and 20 c in the gasket, providing individual channels for fluid flow, through the gasket, between the two mating surfaces, with seals between the gasket and the contacting surfaces.

It is apparent that the gasket 10′ represented in FIG. 4 is fabricated so that the bolt holes in the gasket are in registration with the bolt holes or connector holes in the surface of the center support 40 and that the connector holes in the center support 40 are positioned so as to register with the connector holes in the hub 42. Also, the fluid flow ports 52 a, 52 b and 52 c in the surface of the center support and the fluid flow ports 50 a, 50 b and 50 c in the surface of the hub end are positioned to register with each other respectively. Also, the channel and port seals 20 a, 20 b and 20 c are fabricated in the gasket 10 to register or align with the corresponding fluid flow ports 50 a, 50 b and 50 c and 52 a, 52 b and 52 c, in the mating surfaces. When the center support and hub are connected or coupled with the gasket 10′ in between, as represented in FIG. 4, the invention provides a gasket for filling space between the mating surfaces with a channel for each of the registered fluid flow ports in the mating surfaces and seals for each of the fluid flow ports in the mating surfaces, providing leak proof sealing and leak proof channels for the mating surfaces.

A threaded bolt 55 is represented in FIG. 4 and represents any connector means that may be used to hold the center support, the gasket and the hub connected and in registration. Although a particular use of the invention is represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, the principles of the invention are not limited to the particular use and extend to uses with other mating components and/or mating surfaces where there is fluid communication between mating surfaces. Compression of the gasket between the two mating surfaces provides leak proof sealing by channel aperture end seals between the fluid flow ports in both mating surfaces and the gasket channel aperture ends, such as at 22 a and 22 b at the ends of the channel aperture 20 a, represented in FIG. 3.

In the forgoing description of the invention, referenced to the drawings, certain terms have been used for conciseness, clarity and comprehension. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be implied from or because of the terms used, beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for description purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Furthermore, the description and illustration of the invention are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown, represented or described.

Having now described a preferred embodiment of the invention, in terms of features, discoveries and principles changes that may become apparent to those skilled in the art may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention defined ha the appended claims. 

1. In a vehicle transmission having a first component with a first mating surface and a second component with a second mating surface, a gasket for filling gaps and spaces between said first and second mating surfaces comprising: a) a gasket body fabricated from gasket material having opposed parallel surfaces for contacting said two mating surfaces; b) a plurality of openings in said gasket body capable of being registered with corresponding openings in said first and second mating surfaces; c) a plurality of channel apertures in said gasket body capable of being registered with corresponding channel apertures in the first and second mating surfaces; d) at least one polymer patch integral with said gasket body and surrounding said channel apertures, said at least one polymer patch forming a seal between said gasket body and the first and said second mating surfaces such that fluid can flow from one of the mating surfaces to the other of the mating surfaces through said gasket body without leaking; e) said two opposed parallel surfaces being planar except in the area of said at least one polymer patch.
 2. The gasket of claim 1 wherein said at least one polymer patch is a silicone patch.
 3. The gasket of claim 1 wherein said gasket material has a thickness of about 0.0085 inches. 